Container to hold and store a paintbrush

ABSTRACT

A storage container for a paintbrush is disclosed; which provides a means to safely store a clean paintbrush protecting the bristles from being distorted or damaged. The paintbrush storage container also is an excellent method of short-term storage of a paintbrush still wet with latex types of paint. Since the container can be sealed almost air tight, the painter can place the wet brush in the container, seal it, and leave the brush unattended without the paint drying on the bristles for a short period of time. The storage container is molded of a flexible plastic, such that it is inexpensive to the consumer and may be disposed of after use. The storage container comes in three sizes to accommodate the widths of most brushes used in the market place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus used in the field of painting. More specifically, this invention is an improved paint brush protective holder/cover that protects the bristles of paint brushes from being damaged during short term storage when wet with latex paint and longer term storage or nonuse of clean dry brushes thereby extending the life of the paint brush.

[0002] The practice of painting, to protect the surface of objects, to enhance their appearance, and for purely artistic purposes, is ancient. The basic method of using a brush, having a handle at one end and bristles at the other, dipped into a container of paint, has changed little.

[0003] Perhaps nearly as ancient is the problem of what to do with a paintbrush that is wet with a latex or water based paint, when it is necessary to set the brush down temporarily. A painter may need to do additional preparation work, move a ladder, or use a different brush or color for some period of time. Simply resting the brush on a surface risks both attracting debris to the brush surface and then damaging the surface that is being painted. All of the products in the market require installation of some device to a container or to the brush so that it can rest in a paint can.

[0004] In addition, longer term storage, is somewhat of a problem because all of the solutions that have been offered and tried are expensive to manufacture and therefore sell, are difficult to use or are difficult to store. When a paintbrush has been used the painter must clean the brush in an appropriate solution to remove all of the paint from the brush. After the brush has been cleaned, sometimes the bristles tend to separate and fray off in non-uniform directions. This becomes a problem when the painter needs to use the brush again and the edges of the brush are not uniform. This causes an uneven distribution of paint and produces substandard results. Paper bristle wrappers that come with paint brushes are constructed of light weight paper and deteriorate quickly thus cannot be consider a long term solution. This problem has been solved by the invention whereby the cavity reforms the bristles and helps them stay in their correct alignment.

[0005] Many painters use high quality paintbrushes that have substantial cost. Thus, painters must take care of their expensive brushes to prolong their life and to reduce the cost of maintaining their equipment. When a painter needs to leave his work for a short period of time he must either clean his brush or allow it to stay in contact with the air in some type of holding position. This causes either a loss of productive painting time or potential damage to the brush as the paint on the brush dries permanently. It has become customary for painters to wrap their brushes in clear cellophane to allow them the flexibility to take a break from the painting that they are doing. Although this solution has certain benefits, low cost and freedom to take breaks, it does not protect the brush from deforming due to resting the brush at a slight angle instead of perfectly flat.

[0006] It has become customary for painters to clean their brushes with a solution after painting and to either store their brushes in the original cover or to simply allow them to hang. Both of these solutions allow dirt and dust to gather around and on the brush bristles, which will cause substandard results when the painter uses the brush again. Several approaches have been provided for, in Landmeier of U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,453, “Paint Brush Protective Cover”, Landmeier does a good job of protecting the bristles for long term storage but does not address wet storage. In Gurba of U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,799, “Portable Paint Brush Holder”, Gruba does a good job of addressing wet storage but has created a device that is hard to store and is more expensive to manufacture. In Wilson of U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,363, “Container for Temporarily Holding and Storing a Wet Paintbrush”, and Buslik of U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,670, “Preservation of Paint Brush”, and Crouch of U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,399, “Apparatus for Holding a Paint Brush”, all have addressed some of the problems but are all expensive to manufacture, are difficult to use and are hard to store.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to protect the bristles of a paintbrush from contamination during painting while the paintbrush is set-aside for short periods of time.

[0008] Another object of this invention is to protect the bristles of the paintbrush from paint drying on the bristles during short-term storage of a paint-laden paintbrush.

[0009] Another object of this invention is to protect the bristles of a paintbrush after the brush has been cleaned and is stored for long term.

[0010] Still another object of this invention is to provide a flexible yet resilient plastic case that will protect a paintbrush for long periods of time.

[0011] Still yet another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive yet durable container that is reusable and will last for an indeterminate but extended period of time.

[0012] Another object of this invention is to provide a storage container that can be stacked or hung in different positions to accommodate storage space while offering continued protection for the paintbrush.

[0013] Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a protective container that has snap together features that offer added security so that the two halves of the container stay closed unless intentionally pulled apart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] This invention, together with other objects, features, aspects and advantages will be more clearly understood from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0015] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the invention, reference will be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will never the less be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modification in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

[0016] Referring now to FIG. 1, an improved container to hold and store a paintbrush referred to generally by the number 1. FIG. 1 shows the paintbrush, number 20, suspended over the paintbrush container, number 1. The paint brush is placed into the flexible container in the recessed area, number 2. The bristles of the paintbrush are secure within the recessed area and held in place by the recessed area. In addition, there are suspension support devices, number 6 and number 9. Number 6 is two nipples that project in to the bristles and allow the frame of the brush to rest on these. This allows the brush to float inside of the device and not rest on the bristles when the container is placed upright. Number 9 is a suspension rib that puts pressure on the handle of the brush. This added friction helps keep the brush in place and facilitates the nipples to support the brush in the standing position. Number 3 and number 7 show the location of the interlocking features of the container. These interlocking features continue completely around the container and are especially effective in securing the closing of the device. The interlock also greatly reduces the amount of air that can enter and circulate around the brush which allows short term storage of a wet with paint brush. Number 4 shows a feature that locks the two halves of the device. These “buttons” are positive on the recessed half and negative or recessed on the flat surface or top. The buttons are strategically placed so that they enforce the other features of the device so that the brush is suspended and does not fall in the upright position and with the interlocking so that air is reduced around the brush. Number 5 is a small reservoir that will allow small amounts of paint from a wet with paint brush to flow into. Number 10 is three tabs; two on the bottom recessed half and one on the top. These are used to hang the container during storage. Number 11 shows circular clearance notches placed in the recessed half of the container and are provided to easily insert fingers to remove the handle of the paint brush.

[0017] Referring now to FIG. 2, the container is in the closed position which completely encloses the paint brush. Number 6 shows the nipples that press into the bristles of the brush and act as a stop for the bristle frame so that the brush does not fall when the brush container is in the upright position. Number 9 demonstrates the suspension rib that places pressure on the brush handle to help support the brush. Number 10 is three tabs that are used to hang the container for storage.

[0018] Accordingly, a very unique, attractive, convenient and cost effective apparatus are provided for protecting a paint brush during storage of a paint brush for short term of a paint laden paint brush, and long term storage of a dry paint brush.

[0019] Since minor changes and modifications varied to fit particular operating requirements including different sizes of paint brush, and environments will be understood by those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the specific examples chosen for purposed of illustration, and including all changes and modifications which do not constitute a departure from the true spirit and scope of this invention is claimed in the claims section and reasonable equivalents to the claimed elements. 

We claim:
 1. An improved container that holds and protects a paintbrush that is devised of a single piece of molded plastic with a hinge feature separating two surfaces where one surface has a cavity formed in to hold a paintbrush and the second surface is generally flat except for attachment features, which when the two surfaces are closed or mated together, the paintbrush is held firmly in place and is protected from dust, dirt and air.
 2. The container in 1 above is manufactured in three sizes to accommodate the majority of paintbrushes used.
 3. The storage container of 1 above has molded in features that enable the container to protect the paintbrush; a. Sealing perimeter edge that engages the two halves and holds them together and helps to seal out air. b. Snap together “buttons” that ensure that the container halves are secure and only come apart with intention force, thus furthering the protection that the container offers to the brush. c. The flat areas of the two halves help to reduce the movement of air around and to the brush. d. There is a small reservoir that when a paint brush is hung from any of the hanging features, small amounts of residual liquid may flow from the brush to the reservoir.
 4. The storage container of 1 above has hanging hooks on the side and end to facilitate easy hanging of the container with a clean dry brush for long-term storage. 